Excavator.



No. 806,770. 'PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. A. A. BOOTH.

EXGAVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 0.1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 806,770. PATENTED DEC.12,1905. A. A. BOOTH. EXCAVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6.1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

31 wawtoz PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. A. A. BOOTH. EXGAVATOR'.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE6,1905-.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

P Em TO mm V m AM APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6,1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

attozmg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EXCAVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed June 6, 1905. Serial No. 263,941.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR A. BOOTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Excavators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to excavators; and it has for one of its objects to provide an excavator embodying a shovel and a conveyer so constructed and connected with a main frame that they can be expeditiously adjusted in a lateral direction on the main frame with the expenditure of but little effort on the part of the attendant.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an excavator of a shovel, a conveyer, and means under the control of an attendant for instantaneously raising the shovel and conveyer in the event of the former encountering a stump or other obstruction.

Another object is the provision in an excavator of a shovel so connected to a carrier that when the shovel brings up againstafixed obstruction the connection will be broken and the shovel will be permitted to move rearwardly and the carrier enabled to ride over the obstruction, thereby avoiding wrecking of the machine.

Another object is the provision in an excavator of a transverse conveyer which is adapted to be adjusted vertically and also inthe direction of its length and adjustably fixed to suit different conditions.

Other advantageous features of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part of this. specification, in.whicl1 Figure 1 is a side elevation of the excavator constituting the present and preferred embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear elevation of the machine. Fig. 4c is an enlarged detail section taken through the transverse conveyer in the direction of the width thereof and illustrating the shaft through the medium of which motion is transmitted to the belt of the transverse conveyer, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section illustrating the means under the control of one of the attendants for effecting the instantaneous elevation of the shovel and its complementary conveyer. Fig. 6 is adetail perspective view illustrating the threaded shaft carried by the laterally-adjustable frame and the nut which iscarried by the main frame and through which the threaded shaft extends. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view showing the shaft 5 and the sprocketwheels. 0' and d thereon.

Similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings, referring to which A is the main frame of my novel excavator, which is preferably, though not essentially, of steel and may be of the general construction illustrated or of any other general construction compatible with my invention without involving a departure from the scope of my invention. The said frame is supported on drive-wheels B, which are carried by an axle C, journaled in suitable hearings on the frame, and the machine asa whole is propelled by an explosive-engine D, preferably of the horizontal four cycle type, located on the frame A and having its shaft a connected with one of the wheels B through the medium of a sprocket gear b, fixed on said shaft, a shaft (Z, journaled in suitable bearings on frame A and provided with a sprocket-gear e and a spurpinion f, a sprocket-belt 9, connecting the gears Z) and e, and a spur-gear A, fixed with respect to the said wheel Band intermeshed with the pinion f.

E E are-upper and lower horizontally-disposed guides, preferably T-rails, arranged on and fixed to the forward portion of the frame A.

F is a forward laterally-adjustable frame having boxes k, Fig. 1, receiving the guides E.

G is a caster or steering-wheel, the hanger lof which isjournaled in the forward portion of the frame F, so as to support the same.

H is a gear disposed horizontally and fixed on the upper end of the shank of the hanger Z; I, a transversely-disposed worm-gear intermeshed with the gear H and carried by a shaft m, which is also equipped with a miter-- gear n, and J is an upright shaft journaled in suitable bearings and bearing a miter-gear p and a hand-wheel 9.

At a point adjacent to its forward end the frame F is provided with a platform 8, and

one of the attendants of the machine stands on this platform and is enabled, through the medium of the construction just described, to

mechanism best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This mechanism comprises a transverse threaded shaft K, journaled and held against endwise movement in suitable bearings on the rear end of theframe F; a sprocket-wheel L, fixed on said shaft K; a nut M, fixed to the forward portion of the main frame A and receiving and engaging the shaft K; a transverse shaft N, journaled in suitable supports on the frame F in close proximity to the platform .9 and bearing a hand-wheel t and a sprocket-wheel a; and a sprocket belt 0, connecting the sprocket-wheels L and a. From this it follows that when it is desired to shift the frame F and its appurtenances laterally the same may be expeditiously accomplished by the operator on the platform 8 turning the wheel t, since when the said wheel 2% is turned the shaft K will be rotated through the nut M, fixed to the frame A, and will carry the frame F with it. a

The frame F and all of the parts carried thereby are moved laterally on the rails E, carried by the main frame, the shovel or scraper B being raised and the wheel Grbeing turned to a position at right angles to frame F to facilitate such operation when necessary.

Carried by the forward laterally-adjustable frame F is an elevating-conveyer disposed longitudinally of the machine. This conveyer Pis made up of a suitable frame w, pivoted at w on the rear portion of the frame F, so as to swing in a vertical plane, shafts journaled in the opposite end portionsof the frame w, and a belt 2 of a construction compatible with the purpose of my invention passed around the shafts 3/ and adapted to derive motion from the uppermost of said shafts. Motion is transmitted from the engine D to the upper rear shaft of the conveyer P through the medium of the driving connection shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which connection comprises a sprocket-wheel a, fixed on the shaft d; a transverse shaft Z), journaled in the forward portion of the main frame A and bearing sprocket-wheels 0" and d; a sprocket-belt a, connecting the sprocket-wheels a and c; a short transverse shaft f, arranged coincident with the center of movement of the elevatingconveyer P and bearing sprocket-wheels g and h; a sprocket-belt k, connecting the sprocket-wheel d and the sprocket-wheel g,

and asprocket-belt l, connecting the sprocketwheel it and a sprocket-wheel m on the before-mentioned upper shaft y.

By reason of the arrangement of the parts of the driving connection just described it attached the shovel or scraper R, which by preference has its forward edge tapered back to one side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 2. As clearly illustrated in the said figure, the shovel R- has side flanges p, which are disposed at opposite sides of the carrier Q and are connected to said carrier through the medium of transverse pins S, of wood or other material that is adapted to break when subjected to strain slightly greater than that to which the shovel R is subjected in performing its ordinary function. By virtue of this construction it will be seen that in the event of the shovel bringing up against a stone or other fixed obstruction the connection between the shovel and the carrier will be broken and the shovel will be permitted to move rearwardly, while the carrier will ride over the obstruction,.and thereby avoiding wrecking of the machine.

For the purpose of adjusting and adjustably fixing the forward portion of the conveyer P, so as to determine the depth of the cut to be made by the shovel R, I provide the mechanism best shown in Figs. 1 and 5. This mechanism comprises a rod T, pivoted to the carrier Q and extending upwardly and forwardly through the platform 8; a box U, con

nected to the frame F, preferably in an adjustable manner, as shown in Fig. 5; an abutment V, arranged in said box and fixed with respect to the rod T; a coiled spring W, contained in the box and interposed between the lower end thereof and the abutment V; an upright X, rising from the platform and having an opening in its top for the passage of the upper threaded portion of the rod T and also having a lateral guideway r intersecting the said opening; a hand-wheel Y, mounted on the threaded portion of the rod T and bearing against the upper end of the supportX and having a circumferentially-grooved hub s disposed in the opening of the support; a trigger t, arranged in the guideway 1 of the support and adapted to enterthe circumferential groove in the hub s, and a bell-crank pedal-lever a, mounted on the platform 8 and connected to the trigger it. By turning the hand-wheel Y the attendant on the platform 8 is obviously enabled to raise or lower the carrier Q, and determine the cut to be made by the shovel R. It will be noticed, however, that when the rod T is moved downwardly the spring W will be compressed or placed under tension, and from this it follows that when the trigger t is disengaged from the hub of the hand-wheel Y, as by the attendant on the platform 3 pressing downwardly on the lower arm of the pedal-lever u, the spring W will operate to instantaneously move the rod T upwardly and with it the shovel R and the lower forward portion of the conveyer P as a Whole. This provision enables the attendant on the platform .9 to so position the lower forward portion of the conveyer P when he sees a stump or other large' 1 part of the machine.

In order to relieve the pivotal connection between the conveyer P and the frame F of the thrust imposed on the shovel R, I provide knee-braces Z, disposed at opposite sides of the conveyer P, one of the said braces being clearly shownin Fig. 1. The said knee-braces are fixed to and depend from the lower portion of the frame F, and their forward portions are arranged back of shoulders or abutments A on the frame of the conveyer, where'- by it will be seen that the said knee-braces will take the thrust from the conveyer P and yet will not interfere in any measure with the before-described vertical adjustment of the conveyer.

In the practical operation of my novel machine the dirt will be taken from the ground in an unbroken mass and will be kept in such state until it is discharged from the upper end of the conveyer P, as is desirable.

B, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is the transverse conveyer of the machine, which transverse conveyer is carried by the main frame A and is designed to receive earth from the conveyer P and discharge the same into carts positioned at either side of the said main frame A and moving along with the machine. The said conveyer B comprises a shaft a Figs. 1 and 4, disposed longitudinally of the machine as a whole and'bearing sprocket-wheels b and a miter-gear 0 the latter being disposed at the rear end of the shaft,'(as shown in Fig. 3;) a frame d having longitudinal slots 6 receiving the shaft a clamps f adjustably fixing the frame 61 to uprights of the main frame A; shafts g mounted at opposite ends of the frame d and equipped with sprocket-wheels and a belt made up of canvas or other suitable material h chains '5 Fig. 4, connected to the canvas and passed over the sprocketwheels on shafts g and arranged in engagement with and adapted to derive motion from the sprocket-wheels b on the shaft a When desired, the said conveyer B may also comprise suitable idler-rollers the purpose of which is to support and prevent undue sagging of the lower stretch of the belt. By virtue of the slots 6 in the conveyer-frame d receiving the shaft (K, it will be observed that the conveyer B may be adjusted endwise, so as to extend to the extent desired beyond either side of the main frame A. It will also be observed that the conveyer B. may be swung vertically on the shaft a so as to make either of its ends the uppermost end,and hence adapt it to discharge into a cart located at the adjacent side of the main frame. The clamps f are adjustable vertically on the uprights of the frame A and are also adjustable on the 'direction of its length.

- to the gear E frame (Z of the conveyer Bin the direction ofthe length thereof, and from this it follows that the said clamps may be utilized to adjustably fix the conveyer B with respect to the main frame A after said conveyeris swung vertically and also after it is adjusted in the The shaft a constitutes the center of movement of the conveyer B, and hence it will be seen that the said shaft, or rather its sprocket-wheels 6 will transmit motion to the belt of the conveyer irrespective of the vertical or endwise adjustment of the said conveyer. In addition to the canvas k and the sprocket-belts 2' the belt of the conveyer B may, when desired, comprise steel strips arranged at the inner side of the canvas and interposed between and connecting the sprocket-belts at intervals in the length of the belt. The said strips k hold the sprocketbelts against lateral deflection and the canvas against sagging, and hence contribute materially to the strength and durability of the conveyer-belt. 7

0 Figs. 2 and 3, is a horizontal shaft disposed at right angles to and in rear of the shaft (o v I D is a miter-gear loose on the shaft G and intermeshed with the miter-gear on shaft a E is a second miter-gear loose on the shaft F is a clutch, preferably a friction-clutch, complementary to the gear D and arranged to turn with the shaft 0 and G is a clutch, preferably a friction-clutch, complementary When the clutches F and G are connected to a common lever, which I have deemed it unnecessary to illustrate, it will be seen that when the lever is thrown in one direction the clutch F will be engaged with the gear D to fix the latter to the shaft 0 and the clutch G2 will be moved out of engagement with the gear E while when the lever is thrown in the opposite direction the clutch G will be engaged with the gear F. and the clutch F will be disengaged from the gear D Now it will be seen that with the shaft C continuously rotating in one direction an attendant of the machine on the frame A is enabled by shifting the clutches F 2 Gr to cause the belt of the conveyer B to travel in one direction or the other, according to the side of the machine at which is located thecart to be filled. The said shaft 0 is continuously rotated from the before-described shaft d through the medium of sprocket-wheels on the shafts (Z and O and a belt H connecting the said sprocket-wheels, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the practical operation of the machine as a whole it is driven forwardly by its own power and is steered and its elevating-conveyer is controlled by an attendant standing on the platform 8 of the frame F, who is also in position to conveniently adjust the said frame F laterally at will. Anattendant who stands on the lower portion of the main frame IIO A, at the rear thereof, has to do with the control of the engine and also with the direction in which the belt of the conveyer B is caused to travel. When the machine is propelled forwardly as stated, the belt of the elevatingconveyer will receive the excavated earth from the shovel R and will carry the same in an unbroken mass upwardly and rearwardly and discharge it on the belt of the transverse conveyer B. This latter will carry the dirt upwardly to one side of the machine and at such point will discharge the same into a cart or the like moved along with the machine at the side thereof.

I have entered into a detailed description of the construction and relative arrangement of the parts embraced in the present and preferred embodiment of my invention in order to impart a definite understanding of the said embodiment. I do not desire, however, to be understood as confining myself to such specific construction and relative arrangement of parts, as such changes and modifications may be made in practice as fairly fall within the scope of my invention as claimed.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In an excavator, the combination of a wheel-supported main frame, a forward frame connected to and adjustable laterally on the main frame, a shovel and an elevating-conveyer carried by said forward frame, and means for adjusting the forward frame laterally on the main frame.

2. In an excavator, the combination of a wheel-supported main frame, a forward frame connected to and adjustable laterally on the main frame, a shovel and an elevating-conveyer carried by the forward frame, a steering-wheel supporting the forward portion of the forward frame,means for positioning the said steering-wheel, and means for adjusting the forward framelaterall y on the main frame.

3. In an excavator, the combination of a wheel-supported main frame, a forward frame connected to and adjustable laterally on the main frame, a shovel and an elevating-conveyer carried by said forward frame, a nut fixed on the main frame, and a transverse threaded shaft journaled and held against endwise movement in hearings on the forward frame and extending through and engaging the nut on the main frame. I

a. In an excavator, the combination of a wheel-supported main frame having upper and lower horizontally-disposed guide-rails on its forward portion, a laterally-adjustable forwheel-supported main frame having upper and lower horizontally-disposed guide-rails on its forward portion, and also having a nut provided with a transverse threaded aperture, a laterally adjustable forward frame having boxes on its rear portion receiving the guiderails of the main frame, a shovel and an elevating conveyer carried by said forward frame, a transverse, threaded shaft journaled and held against endwise movement in bearings on the forward frame and extending through and engaging the nut on the main frame, a steering-wheel supporting the forward portion of the forward frame, means for positioning the said steering-wheel, means arranged adjacent to the said steering means for'moving the forward frame sidewise, and a driving connection intermediate the lastmentioned means and the threaded shaft for rotating the latter.

6. In an excavator, the cpmbination of a wheel-supported main frame, a forward frame equipped with excavating means and carried by and adjustable laterally on the main frame, and means for moving the forward frame sidewise with respect to the main frame.

7. In an excavator, the combination of a wheel-supported main frame, a wheel-supported forward frame equipped with excavating means, horizontal guides connecting the main frame and the forward frame so as to adapt the latter to be adjusted in the direction of the width of the machine, and means for so adjusting the forward frame on the main frame.

8. In an excavator, the combination of a wheel-supported frame, vertically-movable excavating means carried by said frame, means for adjusting the active end of said excavating means vertically with respect to the frame, a

spring arranged to be placed under tension when said end of the excavating means is moved downwardly, and means for releasing the adjusting means so as to enable the expansion of the spring to instantaneously raise the active end of the excavating means.

9. In an excavator, the combination of a wheel supported frame, vertically movable excavating means carried by said frame, a shaft connected to the excavating means and provided with an upper threaded portion, a nut mounted on and engaging said shaft, a trigger for normally holding said nut against movement with respect to the frame, a spring interposed between the shaft and the frame and arranged to be put under tension by downward movement of the shaft, and suitable means for disengaging the trigger from the nut.

10. In an excavator, the combination of a wheel supported frame, vertically movable excavating means carried by said frame, a box fixed with respect to the frame and receiving a shaft or rod, the said shaft or rod connected to the excavating means and having an upper threaded portion and also having an abut-.

through the guideway of the support and nor-- mally resting in the grooveof the nut, and a pedal-lever connected to the trigger.

11. In an excavator, the combination of a frame, vertically-movable excavating means carried by said frame, means connecting the active end of the excavating means and the frame and arranged to adjust said active end of the excavating means with respect to the frame, a spring arranged to be placed under tension incident to downward movement of the said connection, and means for releasing the connection from the frame so as to enable the expansion of the spring to raise the active end of the excavating means.

12. In an excavator, the combination of a frame, excavating means comprising a shovel and an elevating-conveyer carried by said frame; the conveyer being pivoted to and arranged to swing vertically on the frame, a knee-brace connected to the frame, and an abutment on the conveyer arranged to bear against the forward portion of the knee-brace and thereby impose on the knee-brace the thrust to which the shovel is subjected.

13. In an excavator, the combination of a wheel-supported main frame, a forward frame connected to and adjustable laterally on the main frame and provided adjacent to its forward end with a platform, a shovel and an elevating-conveyer carried by the forward frame, a steering-wheel supporting the forward portion of the forward frame, means ad jacent to the said platform for positioning the said steering-wheel, a nut fixed on the main frame, a transverse threaded shaft journaled and held against endwise movement in bearings on the forward frame and extending through and engaging the nut on the main frame, a shaft mounted on the forward frame at a point adjacent to the platform thereof, and a driving connection intermediate said shaft and the threaded shaft.

14. In an excavator, the combination of a carrier, a shovel having side flanges disposed alongside the carrier, and transverse pins, of wood or other readily-breakable material, extending through and connecting the flanges of the shovel and the carrier.

15. In an excavator, the combination of a main frame, Wheels supporting the same, a forward frame connected to and adjustable laterally on the main frame, meansfor adjusting the forward framelaterally, a steering-wheel carried by and supporting the forward frame, an endless conveyer and a shovel carried by the forward frame, a transverse conveyer carried by the main frame and arranged to receive from the first-mentioned conveyer; said transverse conveyer being ad-,

justable vertically and in the direction of its length on the main frame, an engine on the main frame, and driving connections intermediate the engine and one of the supporting-wheels of the main frame, the first-mentioned conveyer, and the transverse conveyer; the connection to the transverse conveyer being reversible.

16. In an excavator, the combination of a frame, an endwise-movable and vertically-adjustable conveyer carried by the frame and comprisinga belt, means for driving the belt, and a connection intermediate the driving means and the belt comprising a reversinggear.

17. In an excavator, the combination of a frame, an endwise-movable and vertically-adjustable conveyer comprising a shaft journaled on the frame, and a conveyer having-a frame provided with slots receiving the shaft and a belt arranged in engagement with sprocketwheels on said shaft, means for driving the shaft, a connection intermediate the driving means and ,the shaft including a reversinggear, and means for adjustablyfixing the frame and the belt of the. conveyer with respect to the first mentioned frame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR A. BOOTH.

Witnesses:

HAUBEL E. OWEN, LoUIs MARTIN. 

